C. M. HOSKINS & CO., INC.

vs

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE

FACTS:

Petitioner is a domestic corporation engaged in the real estate business as brokers, managing agents and administrators. It filed its income
tax return for its fiscal year ending September 30, 1957. Upon verification of its return, CIR disallowed four items of deduction and assessed against
it an income tax deficiency plus interests. The CTA upheld CIR's disallowance of one of the items of deduction, the payment to Mr. Hoskins, (founder
and controlling stockholder) the amount of P99,977.91 representing 50% of supervision fees earned. Petitioner appeals the CTA’s ruling arguing that
payment of the same was allowed via a resolution of the Petitioner’s Board of directors.

ISSUE:

Whether or not the payment of Mr. Hoskin’s supervision fees may be deductible from the company’s income tax.

HELD:

The Supreme Court affirmed the CTA’s decision. Mr. Hoskins owned 99.6% of petitioner’s total authorized capital stock and was also a
salesman-broker receiving a 50% share of the sales commissions earned apart from his monthly salary, bonuses and allowances. CTA correctly ruled
that the additional payment of P99,977.91 could not be accorded the treatment of ordinary and necessary expenses allowed as deductible items
within the purview of the Tax Code.

Conditions precedent to the deduction of bonuses to employees: (1) payment of the bonuses is in fact compensation; (2) must be for
personal services actually rendered; and (3) bonuses, when added to the salaries, are “reasonable when measured by the amount and quality of the
services performed with relation to the business of the particular taxpayer.” (Kuenzle v. CIR)

Factors in determining the reasonableness of a given bonus as compensation: (1) amount and quality of the services performed with
relation to the business (2) payment must be 'made in good faith' (3)character of the taxpayer's business, the volume and amount of its net
earnings, its locality, the type and extent of the services rendered (4) salary policy of the corporation (5) size of the particular business (6);'the
employees' qualifications and contributions to the business venture' (7) general economic conditions'.(Kuenzle v. CIR)

Allowing or disallowing as deductible expenses the amounts paid to corporate officers by way of bonus is determined by the CIR
exclusively for income tax purposes. Mr. Hoskins is practically the sole owner of C. M. Hoskins, but he chose to incorporate his business with himself
holding virtually absolute control thereof with 99.6% of its stock with four other nominal shareholders holding one share each. Having chosen to
use the corporate form with its legal advantages of a separate corporate personality as distinguished from his individual personality, the corporation
so created is bound to conduct itself in accordance with corporate norms and comply with its corporate obligations. Specifically, it is bound to pay
the income tax imposed by law on corporations and may not legally be permitted, by way of corporate resolutions authorizing payment of
inordinately large commissions and fees to its controlling stockholder, to dilute and diminish its corresponding corporate tax liability.